Our journey began February 8th with a four-week stay in Rishikesh, India. At that time Covid-19 was a thing in China, but was not much of an issue for the rest of the world. Even by the time we left India March 10th, although it had exploded in Italy, there were still only a handful of cases in India, and only a handful of cases in Malaysia, our next destination. We were keeping an eye on it but were not concerned, especially since the cases in Malaysia were all in or near Kuala Lumpur and we were going directly to Kuching on the island of Borneo. We thought we’d be fine to keep travelling, especially since there were no cases on Borneo. We had our temperature checked at both the Kuala Lumpur and Kuching airports and were allowed to continue.

During our three days in Kuching we received emails from friends saying we should come home. Eventually the message started to land though we were far from panicking. Mostly we were moving on faith, intuition, presence, and love. We couldn’t make a decision and we didn’t want to push the river. We continued to simply allow the unfolding. We weren’t ready to come home. We weren’t ready to panic. We felt safe. And the only thing we knew for sure was that we would continue on to our next planned stop: three days in Sepilok to visit the Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre. We wanted to see the orangutangs. That much was clear.

I’m not sure when we heard two things. The first was that Air Canada would waive fees to change our flight home, so we began to consider it. When we planned this trip we discovered that the most efficient way to travel was a Vancouver-Delhi return flight and a Delhi–Kuala Lumpur return flight. If there would be no fees to change our flight home we thought why not change it to fly home from Kuala Lumpur? Then at some point we heard the second thing: the Indian government had rescinded all visas issued prior to March 12th. That clinched it. We really did have to change our flight back to Canada.

In the meantime we continued on our merry way.

Our time in Sepilok turned out to be magical. We had a lovely spacious hotel room at a resort with a small lake and tropical gardens. It was especially appreciated after the tiny scuzzy hotel room in Kuching that I’ve completely erased from my memory. But the highlights of course were the orangutangs, the native Bornean sun bears, and a pygmy elephant, along with many macaques and proboscis monkeys. It was a rich, happy, openhearted time. We kept saying how lucky we were. We’d landed in a little slice of paradise.

On the morning of March 17th we were still feeling to continue travelling, and the night before we’d booked a hotel for three days in Kota Kinabalu. As we were waiting for a Grab car (Asia’s Uber) to take us to the airport a couple of other tourists told us that Malaysia would go on shut-down from the 18th, but it was not clear if it was from midnight on the 17th or sometime the next day. And that we had to leave the country by the 18th!

That got our attention!

We flew to Kota Kinabalu as planned and instead of going to our hotel we stayed at the airport for hours trying to find a flight home while at the same time trying to get accurate information. I could see the Malaysian government closing its borders to international travellers. I could see restricting the movement of Malaysians within the country. But forcing all foreigners out at a moment’s notice? That made no sense to me. Meanwhile the service desks for Air Asia and Malaysian Airlines were swamped with people trying to get home. Suddenly every foreigner was trying to get out of the country – in a panic, and in a hurry. Including us. In our panic we booked a flight at stupid o’clock in the morning (ie getting up at 3am) thinking that if we were to find any flight on the 18th we needed to be in Kuala Lumpur stat.

We hunkered down trying to get to the truth. I suspected there was a lot of misinformation flying around. We waited on the phone to Air Canada for almost two hours trying to change our flight and at the same time kept trying to change it online on a hopelessly overloaded system. Flights showed up then disappeared. Prices changed. At one point it looked like we’d have to pay an extra $6000 or so because the only seats available on any flight on the 18th were business class. Then it looked like we’d have to take a two-hour flight to Jakarta, followed by a nine-hour layover, then a seven-hour flight to Tokyo, another nine-hour layover, and finally an eight-hour flight to Vancouver. Brutal. Thankfully that offer suddenly disappeared.

Meanwhile I kept searching. I just couldn’t believe that we had to leave by the 18th and finally I found confirmation of that. Phew. That gave us breathing space. We found, and booked online a flight via Tokyo for the 21st at very little extra cost.

On the 18th we arrived at the hotel we’d booked in Kuala Lumpur and quietly died inside. It was supposedly a three-star hotel, colourful and a little funky, but from the pictures online it looked pretty good. It had good reviews – 8.8 out of 10. In reality it was absolutely dire. Old, grubby and shabby, the room tiny and not at all like the pictures we’d seen. We were shown two different rooms and said no and no. Just no.

It was time to splurge a little. We got online and found a place with a large bright room with armchairs, and a desk, and beautiful crisp clean linens, a huge bathroom with two sinks and a rainfall shower, and room to unpack. If we were to be stuck in a closed city damn it we were going to be comfortable! From my hippie backpacker do-it-on-the-cheap days I find I’ve now turned into a princess. We happily walked away from the dire dive into four-star heaven.

Arriving at our new place we walk in and this time quietly die with joy. Even the lobby is heaven. The woman at reception tells us we must pay cash for our room. This is when we learn just how close to the wire we have cut it. The shut down included a directive that hotels were to take no new bookings after 10am. It is 11.30. We are in by the skin of our teeth.

We’ve found a deserted mall

where only the pharmacy and supermarket are open, and a convenience store for water and snacks. Restaurants are serving take-out only, including the hotel breakfast, which was given to us in take-out containers to eat in our room. There’s a large park nearby. We assumed the small zoo, the museum, and the tower in the park would all be closed, but today we discovered that the entire park is closed. So we walked to the famous Petronas Towers.

Through all this we are content. Except for that short time of panic when we thought we had to leave on the 18th we’ve been completely calm about it all. It is after all minor First World problems. We look at each other with love. Sometimes we burst out laughing at the absurdity of life. At the same time we understand from a deep well of gratitude that we are among the lucky ones.

Even our mistakes turn out to be right choices. In Rishikesh Don forgot he had more than ten thousand rupees stashed away. Towards the end of our time there we were getting short of cash so we got more from an ATM. When he discovered his hidden stash we were both mildly annoyed. We left India with a big bundle of rupees. Not a big deal, but you know, we “should” be able to do better. As it turned out the hotel we’re in required a cash deposit. No problem! We handed over the rupees. And that really early morning flight from Kota Kinabalu? We thought we needed it to be in KL so we could get a flight out that same day. When we booked our flight home for the 21st we were a bit annoyed with ourselves for having booked that early flight in a panic. We could have flown to KL at a more reasonable hour. What we didn’t know at the time was that we needed to be in KL in time for that 10am deadline which for us was stretched ‘til 11.30. Otherwise we’d have been stuck in the dire dive. And if that tourist back at Sepilok hadn’t told us about the shut-down we’d have wandered on our innocent way until it slammed us in the face. I am humbled by the way the universe takes care of us.

Taiwan has recently closed its airports to all international flights. Our only concern is that in the thirty-six hours between now and 8am on the 21st when our flight leaves that Japan will do the same. We have no reason to think they will. And no reason to think they won’t.

Meanwhile I’ve been reading about some lovely things happening in the world amidst the ruthlessness of this pandemic:

Since the lockdown: Venice’s canals have become crystal clear. Italy’s coasts have dolphins coming nearer and nearer. Japan now has deer roaming free in the streets, and Thailand the same with monkeys. China has record-breaking pollution cuts. The Earth has already begun showing signs of amazing things that are happening from the absence of human pollution. What if – and hear me out – what if the entire human population used this as an opportunity to restart society on a greener, more environmentally conscious foot. What we’re seeing in the span of a couple of days is amazing. A pipe dream.
Gina Mayer

I do hope it’s not just a pipe dream.

And this:

Lockdown
by Br. Richard Hendrick, priest-friar of the Irish branch of the Capuchin Franciscan Order.

Yes there is fear.
Yes there is isolation.
Yes there is panic buying.
Yes there is sickness.
Yes there is even death.
But,
They say that in Wuhan after so many years of noise
You can hear the birds again.
They say that after just a few weeks of quiet
The sky is no longer thick with fumes
But blue and grey and clear.
They say that in the streets of Assisi
People are singing to each other
Across the empty squares,
Keeping their windows open
So that those who are alone
May hear the sounds of family around them.
They say that a hotel in the West of Ireland
Is offering free meals and delivery to the housebound.
Today a young woman I know
Is busy spreading fliers with her number
Through the neighbourhood
So that the elders may have someone to call on.
Today Churches, Synagogues, Mosques and Temples
Are preparing to welcome
And shelter the homeless, the sick, the weary
All over the world people are slowing down and reflecting
All over the world people are looking at their neighbours in a New way
All over the world people are waking up to a new reality
To how big we really are.
To how little control we really have.
To what really matters.
To Love.
So we pray and we remember that
Yes there is fear.
But there does not have to be hate.
Yes there is isolation.
But there does not have to be loneliness.
Yes there is panic buying.
But there does not have to be meanness.
Yes there is sickness.
But there does not have to be disease of the soul
Yes there is even death.
But there can always be a rebirth of love.
Wake to the choices you make as to how to live now.
Today, breathe.
Listen, behind the factory noises of your panic
The birds are singing again
The sky is clearing,
Spring is coming,
And we are always encompassed by Love.
Open the windows of your soul
And though you may not be able
To touch across the empty square,
Sing.

Tonight from our hotel balcony

Edited to add: All went smoothly and we are now home in Vancouver. It is good to be home!

Next posts: Those of you who have been following the blog for a while know that I write about our travels chronologically. But now I’ve gotten so far behind that doesn’t really make sense any more. Future posts will come randomly from the following travels:
1. Feb/Mar 2019 and 2020 Rishikesh, India – the holy men, the pilgrims, the nightly ritual and prayer to the Ganges, activities at and in the river, the wildlife, and a day trip to Haridwar.
2. Mar 2019 Kyoto, Japan – after we left Rishikesh last year we spent two weeks exploring in and around Kyoto – a festival, a fishing village, a rural hike, and blossom hunting.
3. July 2019 Vancouver, Canada – my sisters came to stay and we played tourist in our hometown – a street food festival, some funky neighbourhoods, a Japanese festival, the gardens, the Pride Parade, and the naked bike ride.
4. Summer 2019 Saturna Island, Canada
5. March 2020 Malaysia – eight days on the island of Borneo. Wildlife magic.
6. Oh and somewhere in there I will do a post on Montreal where we spend two weeks with family every winter.

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85 thoughts on “Love In The Time Of Corona – finding our way home”

I just wondered the other day if you’d stay put. I’ve had my challenges here with my older parents but nothing like scrambling for a couple of international flights. Thanks for the update and I’ll have my fingers firmly crossed for your Tokyo flight!

Thanks so much Lexie. Honestly we would have stayed put had the country not been shut down. I must admit we were pretty innocent about it all. It took a long time for it to land with us that this is really serious. We were living in a bubble. And the Universe took care of us. How lucky we are.
Alison

I think we were all pretty blasé about what was really happening! I had my nearly 90-year-old parents out at the enormous Houston Rodeo and Livestock Show on the day everything started to really fall apart. As helicopters circled overhead, the loudspeakers intoned over and over again, “Stay calm, proceed to the gates, the rodeo is canceled …!” That was the first inkling I had that life was going to start changing fast. I did a 180 on my cavalier attitude, realizing that my actions might affect people more vulnerable than I. We are now in for the duration after driving 2000 miles to get my parents home in the face of canceled flights and worries about exposure for them. Yikes! Once again, safe travels to you and Don!

Wow, you sure had a lot to deal with! Like you what has finally landed for me is not that I wear a mask and wash my hands and keep my distance for me, but so that I won’t harm others. Do Don or I have the virus? – highly unlikely, but I finally get it that I can’t take that risk with the lives of other people.
I can’t even imagine a 2000 mile drive. Hope you’re all settled safe back home again now.
A. xo

Safe travels back! It is a time of fear and a time of wonder. A time of unease and a time of grace. it is a time for all of us to remember — we are all connected. We are all one people on this one planet we call home.

thank you for your travel journal and for that beautiful poem by Br. Richard Hendrick, Lockdown. It brought tears to my eyes.

Thanks so much Louisa. I love the way you put it. I think many of us are hoping this will be a big re-set of how we do life. Or perhaps I should say how life does us.
Like you I’m both moved to tears and heartened by the good news that is emerging – wildlife reclaiming space, and people showing their best. It is all grace.
Alison xo

As we were deciding to leave India and figuring out how to get back to Denver I was reading your last post from Malaysia thinking “Do they not realize how hard it might be to get home from there if they wait much longer?” We’re so glad you and Don made it safely back. The world is closing down and I believe things are going to to get much worse here in the US. I hope I’m wrong.
Our challenge now is how to stay confined, be productive and continue to help others.
Be safe. Wishing everyone good health.
Steve

Thanks so much Steve. There’s no doubt we were living in a kind of bubble. And we’re incredibly lucky that the bubble was burst at exactly the right moment. As it turns out getting a flight home was easy enough once we established that it didn’t actually have to be on the 18th. And none of Malaysia’s neighbouring or close-by countries are on shut down even yet, just some parts of them. Malaysia suddenly going on shutdown came as a complete surprise.
Our flights are still listed as of this morning.
I too think it will get worse before it gets better.
Looking forward to being home even if we will be in self isolation for 2 or 3 weeks.
Alison

I think you’re leading a charmed life, Alison. And why not? There’s still a fair amount of love around here in the Algarve but the UK cities seem to have gone bonkers! Enjoy the rest of your trip and journey home 🤗💕

Thanks Jo. I too think we’re leading a charmed life. Sooooo much gratitude. When I think about how blessed we are I have no words, just puzzled as to how I got so lucky.
I’ve heard about people going a bit bonkers in the UK, and in the US too of course, and in Oz. Don’t know about Canada – guess we’ll find out when we get there.
Alison

Thanks so much Nicole. I’m glad we’re going home. Well we have no choice really, but it feels like it’s time. As you say things are changing really fast. So far all our flights are still happening tomorrow. I hope that doesn’t change! Hugs back to you.
Alison xo

I’m sure you will be glad to get back home before all the borders are shut. We are in total lockdown here in Spain, by Royal Decree. Only one of us can walk the dog within our small neighborhood and only one of us can go to the grocery store or pharmacy. It is being policed. It feels like house arrest but I know it is for the best. I have books to read and books to write. We’re OK. Still lots of groceries on the shelves too. No silly bing buying. Stay safe and healthy.

Thanks Darlene. I’ve been reading about how bad it’s gotten in Spain. I’m glad to hear you’re ok.
For sure we’ll be in isolation for at least 20 days when we get home. We’ll go grocery shopping one at a time and wear masks and latex gloves if we can get any. We tried 2 pharmacies here in KL so we’d have them on hand for when we get back but neither had any.
Counting the hours ’til our flight now. Only 17.5 to go. I’ve never counted hours before!
You too – stay safe and well.
Alison

Keep in mind that you need N95 type masks, and that the current advice from BC’s top medical doctor is to wear them only if sick, that they are no help as a preventative measure except to protect others if you have symptoms. Also her advice about gloves of any kind is that they don’t help prevention either. Masks are pretty much unavailable here in your city, and if they can be found, they want people to stop getting them so that the medical profession doesn’t run out. Ya, it’s complicated and instructions change every day. Most important is the practice of 6’ distancing. Hard to do in grocery stores. But many now have early shopping for seniors. This morning I tried that time period and managed to do everything without getting close to a single person.

I’ve never seen our supermarket so crowded that I needed to be close to anyone. We have masks, and will wear them anyway as a kind of courtesy I suppose since not everyone knows they actually don’t do that much. Same with gloves if we can get them. It’s kind of like an outward symbol that we’re doing what we can. I’m thinking the only time shopping we get close to anyone is lining up at the checkout. I bet (hope) the protocol has changed there a bit and that people understand not to get too close to each other.
A.

I look at my travel photos…and it seems like a dream now. And am so glad I went and I’m sure you and Don will feel the same when you land back in Vancouver. Practice the safe social distance of 6 ft. apart.

It’s for real. Be at home and enjoy the cherry blossoms now. Treasure the time at home.

We have no regrets about our trip at all, and like you will savour the memories.
We’ll be in self-isolation when we get home – for 20 days I think. Yes, it’s for real. I’m so looking forward to being home now.
Alison

Wow! You guys are something else! Hopping around in Asia when everybody here is practicing “self-isolation” and “social distancing”! A whole new vocabulary has emerged along with a whole new lifestyle. Borders closing, doctor appointments by phone only, restaurants and coffee houses serving take-out food only, no meetings of groups, large or small …… most everything shutting down, and all this within just a couple of weeks. It takes some adjusting!

I was already in disbelief that Mooji continued to hold satsang in Rishikesh for thousands of people, packed tightly together like sardines, at a time when we here were advised to keep a safe distance of 6′ from each other. I thought for sure you’d return after India and skip Malaysia. But not so ……. intrepid travelers just cannot be stopped! 🙂

So let me wish you a safe return on the 21st. I hope all goes well, Stay safe!

Thanks so much Tanya. It’s amazing how incredibly quickly things have changed. We’d been following the progression, but not dwelling on it. We had no idea Malaysia would suddenly go on lockdown. None of the neighbouring countries have yet, only parts of the Philippines, and parts of Indonesia. For sure Malaysia’s doing the right thing. Everyone here is practicing social distancing and self isolation too, and we will have to as soon as we get home too of course. They’re saying 20 days now, not 2 weeks.
During the time Mooji was giving satsang in Rishikesh there were very few cases in India, and none in Rishikesh. And we continued on to Malaysia because there were only a handful of cases there too. How quickly it all changed!
Sooo looking forward to getting home.
Alison

Yes, we are all reeling from the speed at which our world has changed. The world at large, and also our own private little world. For the first time in my whole life I’ve been stocking up on food! No appointments, no dates with friends, no visits to coffee houses …… the calendar is empty!

But it’s not all bad. I take it as a kind of retreat without the usual distractions and activities. Walks in nature, devoting time to our hobbies, meditating, qigong online classes and retreats ……. there’s so much beauty and so much to be grateful for. But for younger people who have children and jobs it can be really hard.

You’ll soon be home and resting up. In times of crisis home is best! 🙂

I just adore the way you travel without panic and with love. I agree always live in the moment and everything will fall into place. Thank you for those final quotes about how the world appears to be changing for the better. There is always silver linings if you look for them.

Thanks pommepal. We try to stay present as much as possible, and let Life unfold itself. The more we get out of our own way the easier things are. We’re better at it sometimes than at others, but mostly we trust our inner knowing. Still, having said that, I’ll not fully relax until I’m on the flight to Japan tomorrow. We did the best we can, but things still feel tenuous as it’s been clearly demonstrated to us how quickly things can change.
I agree – there are always silver linings. I hope this leads to a major world-wide re-set in how we humans do life on this beautiful planet.
Alison

I’ve been thinking about you guys this past week and wondering where you are. It’s crazy how fast things have changed here in just a week. Eight days ago I was on a flight to visit my sis in Alberta and didn’t think much of it, by the time I returned on Monday all hell had broken loose. People are staying in, grocery stores are empty, services are closed…
On a cheerier note, it’s lovely to see your orangutang photo (would love to visit Borneo), and the commentary on the positive impact of the virus on our environment is definitely a silver lining.
All the best for your return on the 21st. Stay well!

Thanks Caroline. I’m counting down the hours until we board that flight for Japan, and then for Vancouver.
Things changed soooo quickly! We had no idea Malaysia would suddenly go on lockdown.
Borneo is special. Definitely worth visiting.
I hope our local supermarket has restocked – we’ll arrive home to 20 days self-isolation and no food in the pantry.
Alison

When James told me that you and Don were in Malaysia, I became really concerned. And when the country announced the lockdown, I was extremely concerned of your condition. I’m glad it all worked out for both of you despite all those craziness you had to deal with. I hope you can make it all the way back to Canada smoothly! Many people have been working from home here in Jakarta, and starting this week for at least two weeks there won’t be any Friday prayer at mosques across the city (following churches that have started streaming services online since last Sunday). I hope this will end soon (although from Earth’s perspective this is a really great time due to the significant reduction in pollution). These extraordinary times should make us contemplate about the bigger picture and our presence in the world.

Thanks so much for your concern, and kind thoughts Bama. So far it’s worked out, but I won’t be really relaxed until I’m on the plane out of here. It’s starting to feel like a long wait, but only 16 hours to go.
I think there’ll be a lot of contemplation about how we all do life. I hope so.
I’m glad to hear people are starting to work from home and isolate more in Jakarta. It’s the only thing that will stop this thing. I hope you and James are well.
Stay safe.
Alison

Glad it all worked out, things started to change so fast last week, I think everyone was taken by surprise. But staying calm is a big plus – I think not only for you but for others around you. I am curious to see if this whole thing will really change people.

Thanks Tracey. We’re glad too! We’re into the last few hours now until we leave the hotel for the airport. Dinner, packing, and one more sleep. We’re getting a bit restless and anxious, but still hanging in there. Nothing else to do. I too am curious to see if it will really change people. I hope so.
Alison

Oh, I loved the poem “Lockdown” and its message of optimism despite all the dire warnings and predictions. Wishing you safe travels, few glitches, and continued optimism, gratitude and good health as you make your way home. 🙂 Anita

Thanks so much Anita for your kind wishes. We are on our way. First leg over and now waiting at the boarding gate at Narita Airport for our flight to Vancouver.
I too love the optimism of the poem. I remain hopeful that some good changes will come from this.
Alison

Talk about luck, Alison!!! And I love the poem from the Franciscan monk. My family in Italy is telling me that people are singing at each other on the balconies :). We’ll get through it and perhaps we’ll be better.

Oh yeah, we know we are lucky! Up to our eyes in horseshoes.
I’ve been looking at various videos coming from Italy of people singing from the balconies – so moving. I love how people always find a way to pull together. Sometimes it takes the worst of times to bring out the best in us.
Alison

Alison glad you both made it back home safe. We were probably on the other end of the spectrum in that we anticipated the worst and acted on it fast, and luckily we did or we would have been stuck in Sri Lanka. We had to make some quick decisions and choose a new country to live in when we discovered that the borders had closed to non Vietnamese and we could not return to our home.

If there is a silver lining to all that is going on then yes, it is the benefit to the planet and to the reduction in climate change that is happening. It feels as though the universe has forced us all to make changes whether we want to or not.

Sorry to hear your trip got cut short… like wise for so many, others cancelled entirely, but wonderful you did get to see the orangatangs before your return.

OMG Peta, I’m so distressed for you! I had no idea you’d not be able to return home to Hoi An. This really has disrupted your life hasn’t it? I hope you’ve landed well wherever you are.
I agree about the silver lining. The planet is getting a time-out from our relentless destruction. May it continue, and may this world-wide disruption lead to much needed changes.
We’re not worried about the trip being cut short. It is what it is. We’re ready to be home now. Five minutes from where we live there’s a 4 km forest trail around a golf course that I walk daily. That’s the thing I look forward to most. We’ll be in isolation for 3 weeks, but as long as I can hike that trail every day I’ll be fine.
I hope you and Ben have begun to settle in your new location and that you are both well.
Alison xo

Hi Guys!
Well interesting that we are kinda in the same neighbourhood, I was in Panang till the 13th of March – I had no idea things went so crazy in Malaysia so quickly. Went I went through KL airport they were taking temperatures but little else.
I’m in Perth on a pet sit trying to get home at the end of the month… first Philippine Air cancelled my flight and now Air Canada did. sigh. If it wasn’t for my cancelled travel insurance I would just hunker down here until things settle.
I wish you luck!
hugs,
donnae

Thanks Donnae. It’s going well for us – we’re at our boarding gate at Narita waiting for our flight to Canada.
Sounds like you’re in a bit of a pickle. I guess you can’t leave early because of your house sitting commitment, but I thought Air Canada was bringing Canadians home. I hope you find your way home soon.
Alison

Wow, Alison. Hoping you’re somewhere over the Pacific right now, finally on your last flight to Canada. What a turn of events. How fortunate that you’ve been ushered along and pointed back home by a series of small but really important occurrences like the extra rupees and the word on the street in Malaysia. Being in sync with the universe, as you and Don always are, seems to have worked as a divine travel agent in this time of crisis. Looking forward to hearing of your safe arrival back in Van, Princess. 🙂 ~K.

Thanks Kelly. We are home, thank goodness. Yesterday sometime – still jet lagged and brain dead, but so happy to be home, even in isolation.
I’m still blown away by the synchronicity of events that got us home in a relatively smooth way. Sooo lucky.
I think being a princess suits me 🙂
Alison

Alison, I’m so, so glad to hear your latest update about making it to Japan and waiting at Narita for the flight to Vancouver. As Bama mentioned in his earlier comment, I wondered how you and Don were faring as cases began to spike in Malaysia, and then what would happen to you both when the entire country went into lockdown. The situation here in Southeast Asia has escalated so quickly in the last 10 days… even the streets of Jakarta are emptying out (no traffic jams!) as everyone stays at home. Bama says he’s never seen anything like it in his 12 years of living here.

Sepilok is one place I’ve been wanting to go to for years now. It’s a testament to your openness and contented nature that you managed to enjoy it so much despite the worried messages from friends and the news from India. I’m amazed about how everything fell into place: that the early flight to KL at stupid o’clock was booked for a reason, that the extra rupees served a purpose, and that somehow you found a way out via Tokyo. Your calm attitude despite all these sudden changes (and the shortened trip) is admirable – I don’t think I’d have that kind of patience and levelheadedness had I been put in the same position. Thank you for writing such a heartwarming post in this time of fear. May the 20 days of self-isolation pass smoothly and quickly for you both!

Thanks so much James. We are home now. Malaysia was only shutdown while we were there, so we could be out on the streets. The day we left it went into full lockdown so we got out just in time. As far as I know Malaysia, Singapore, and Taiwan are the only countries in the region that are on shutdown or full lockdown. I hope the Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, etc follow suit quickly. Good to hear the streets of Jakarta are emptying out.
We too are amazed at how everything fell into place for us so that we could get home quickly and easily. We were very lucky. It’s so good to be home!
Alison

We are living in such strange times. How many of us would’ve laughed if, three months ago, someone had said that most businesses would be closed and we would be isolated ourselves in our homes day after day?

Yes, similar story for us – we felt safe in India with relatively few infections but when the Australian government posted on its smart-traveller website that all Australians overseas who wanted to come home should do so asap, we saw the writing on the wall. Very rapidly things started to slow down. We were suddenly the only people in our hotel in Pushkar. Half the shops were shuttered. We decided to relocate to Delhi so we could access an earlier flight out if it became necessary. Good thing we did because our agent booked us on flights out with only a few hours notice. It seemed a bit crazy to leave a relatively safe place and put ourselves on a plane with overseas travellers from where-ever, but we now felt that we needed to be home and that India wouldn’t be a good place for us to be if the epidemic hit badly. So we are home and in “self-isolation”. Friends and neighbours have been wonderful and dropped off food and supplies. The weather is glorious. It could be a lot worse…And many thanks to our Indian friends and travel company as well as our Australian agent for organising everything with calm and poise.

Sounds like you were lucky with your decisions too, like we were. But I think you got the message a little quicker than we did lol. So good that you got to Delhi in time for that flight.
I can’t imagine being in a quiet Pushkar. It must have been very weird, and I agree India would not be a good place to wait out the pandemic.
We are so glad to be home – in a cool Vancouver spring. Missing the tropics a bit, but as you say, it could be a lot worse. We are lucky.
Alison

What an unexpected adventure. Good to hear you are getting by with not too much inconvenience. I had a trip planned to Peru. Was supposed to leave today, in fact. So disappointed to cancel, but I am looking at this forced inertia as a gift. Much love to you both.

Thanks Julie. We have been blessed by all the circumstances that got us home. So lucky! So sorry you had to cancel Peru. We too are focusing on the isolation as a gift – there will be pearls revealed for sure.
Love to you too.
Alison

Luck, and pluck, and grace got you back. The poem was a great addition. I’m looking forward to the next posts, in whatever order they appear. It’s all good, as they say, and as we need to hear a little more these days.

You got that right – some pluck for sure, and lots of luck and grace. We feel so blessed. And yes, it’s all good. For all the disruption and suffering, I’m glad nature is getting a chance to heal and rebound. And we all need to take pause from “normal” I think. Maybe the world will discover a new better normal.
Alison

Moving on ‘faith, intuition, presence, and love’ is the best way to travel, in the good and the bad times. It keeps doors open, lends to mistakes that blessings in disguise, and brings in a wealth of serendipitous encounters. But then you know that.

I love that you were able to see the Orangutans; we encountered them on the Indonesian side of Borneo. It was on our top 5 circumnavigation experiences. I have never heard of them referred to as sun bears, but it fits.

I am glad that you were able to keep a cool head when peace was replaced by panic, finding an affordable flight through Tokyo, and upgrading to comfortable accommodations while you waited. The photos of an empty Kuala Lampur gave me chills just as any street photos do at this time.

Thanks Lisa. We have (mostly) learned to travel by intuition, and that whenever it feels like we’re pushing the river then we know we’re not on the right track, or we need to slow down and re-think things. It’s never failed us, and as you say, brings open doors and untold serendipity. And in this instance it was so clear to us to keep travelling and not panic. Until it *was* time to panic LOL.

It was all so worth it to see the orangutangs, and a lone completely wild Borneo (pygmy) elephant on the banks of the Kinabatangan River. Like you the orangutangs and the ellie, and the sun bears, will remain on our list of best travel experiences ever. The sun bears are a small bear unique to Borneo and we saw them at a rehab centre close to the orangutang rehab centre.

I am sooooo glad that we were able to change our accommodation in KL. It would have been a pretty miserable 3 days had we not been able to. As it was those days passed in a kind of lazy luxurious haze. So blessed!

Hope you guys are doing well in this time of isolation. Stay safe.
Alison

When I found out my flight back to the UK, booked for 31st March, was cancelled, I decided to stay put in Vietnam. The Vietnamese authorities were very proactive right from the beginning and have managed to control the number of cases really well.

A colleague had to find a flight home for his wife around 22nd March, and that was stressful enough just to watch – she had no option but to leave because immigration refused to extend her visa. But as my visa is good until end August, there’s no rush… Nevertheless I had to move from my school accommodation and go into paid accommodation in the lovely Danang, because my contract with my school finished. Somehow, in this time when travelling seemed counter-intuitive unless there’s no choice and we all have to rely on a bit of understanding and compassion from our fellow human beings, my employer would not allow me to stay at the school where teachers live for free… She did not want to have the responsibility of me staying after the contract finished. It is in a crisis that people show their true colours.

Thank goodness, as always there is a silver lining, and my airbnb host has been truly fantastic and extremely helpful and has restored my faith in Vietnam and its most incredibly kind and generous people.

Not sure when I will return home, but I am hopeful that affordable flights may be available in a couple of months… In the meantime, I shall enjoy the beaches of Danang once lockdown is finished and the beaches are open again. For now, I stay at home…

Thanks Lieve. It is good to be home. We were pretty stressed there for a bit, but just until I established for sure that we had a few days to get out of the country.
I’m so glad you’ve found a place to land in Danang, especially after your employer was so uncaring. As you say – people show their true colours.
I hope the beaches open again soon so you can get out and enjoy them.
We’ve finally finished our 14 days of quarantine and can now at least get out for walks, which helps.
Alison

Thanks Susan. We were in such a bubble and nothing penetrated until it really had to. We both felt so calm and that we were just going with the flow. I’m so glad we did. Sepilok and the orangutangs turned out to be a huge highlight – I’ll post about it eventually.
Alison